# Daggerheart

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***Daggerheart*** is a fantasy [tabletop role-playing game](/source/Tabletop_role-playing_game) published by [Darrington Press](/source/Darrington_Press), an imprint of [Critical Role Productions](/source/Critical_Role_Productions). The game was released on May 20, 2025.

## Gameplay

*Daggerheart* is a story-driven role-playing game, where the rules encourage players to think narratively and not just mechanically.[2] The game uses a system called Duality Dice, where players roll two twelve-sided dice—one for Hope and one for Fear. In addition to determining whether the player succeeds or fails at the action they are trying to perform, it generates a helpful Hope resource for the player, or a challenging Fear resource for the game master.[3] Lead designer Spenser Starke explained that there is "also no initiative in *Daggerheart*. It functions very much like a *Forged in the Dark* or *[Powered By The Apocalypse](/source/Powered_by_the_Apocalypse)* game, where the GM is making moves on certain dice rolls and we're passing play back and forth as a conversation. It all flows together in a way that supports the storytelling-first direction that *[Critical Role](/source/Critical_Role)* has really embraced over the last decade".[4]

The game features 279 supplemental cards to track player abilities and characteristics.[5] Darrington Press also launched several digital resources, including an online custom card creator.[6]

## Publication history

See also: [List of Critical Role episodes#Daggerheart](/source/List_of_Critical_Role_episodes#Daggerheart)

In April 2023, [Darrington Press](/source/Darrington_Press) announced that they were creating two new roleplaying game systems – *Illuminated Worlds* for short campaigns and *Daggerheart* for longer campaigns – which were scheduled to have a public [playtest](/source/Playtest) during [Gen Con](/source/Gen_Con) in August 2023.[7][8] Development of *Daggerheart* was led by lead designer Spenser Starke with co-designer Rowan Hall.[9][1] Production on the project started after their work was completed on *[Candela Obscura](/source/Candela_Obscura#Game_system)*.[10] The [open beta](/source/Open_beta) playtest of *Daggerheart* began on March 12, 2024; this playtest was made available at select game stores, as a PDF or on [Demiplane](/source/Demiplane_(company)) via the *Daggerheart Nexus*. The *Nexus* edition includes digital character creation tools.[11][12] The *[Critical Role](/source/Critical_Role)* cast also ran a live playtest on their Twitch and YouTube channels on March 12, with a sequel playtest in May 2024.[11][13] Hayley McCullough, for the *[American Journalism](/source/American_Journalism_Historians_Association#Publications)*, speculated that *Daggerheart* may allow *Critical Role* "to fully sever its connections to *[Dungeons & Dragons](/source/Dungeons_%26_Dragons)*" with cast using "*Daggerheart* as their go-to system going forward".[14] She commented that the "potential rippling consequences of such a move" is worth keeping an eye on.[14]

*Daggerheart* was released on May 20, 2025. The *[Age of Umbra](/source/Age_of_Umbra)* limited series also started airing that month; the series features the cast of *Critical Role* playing *Daggerheart* in the "Age of Umbra" [campaign frame](/source/Campaign_setting) created by Darrington Press creative advisor [Matthew Mercer](/source/Matthew_Mercer) for the system.[15][16][17] [Business Insider](/source/Business_Insider) reported that *Daggerheart* "sold out worldwide in under a week after its launch in May", with [Critical Role Productions](/source/Critical_Role_Productions)' chief operating officer Ed Lopez noting that the amount of ordered units was expected to be a year's supply but instead "lasted us literally two weeks".[18] Lopez referred to this as "a Champagne problem" which changed their "view in terms of what this product can be".[18] Darrington Press also released a [system reference document](/source/System_Reference_Document) (SRD) for the game in May 2025. *[Wargamer](/source/Wargamer_(website))* explained that "sharing a free SRD is common practice in the world of tabletop RPGs" as it allows "third parties to create license-safe spin-off products of the original work".[19] Additionally in 2025, Darrington Press signed a sales and distribution agreement for U.S. and international markets with [Macmillan Publishers](/source/Macmillan_Publishers) to expand the release of their roleplaying game books in "the book channel, in addition to its existing distribution in the hobby channel".[20] Lin Codega of *Rascal* noted this included both "their new fantasy heartbreaker, *Daggerheart*," and "their backlist" titles.[21]

In June 2025, Darrington Press released a new playtest for expanded *Daggerheart* mechanics including new [character classes](/source/Character_class) and [ancestries](/source/Character_race).[22][23] At Gen Con, in July 2025, Darrington Press announced multiple upcoming expansions for the game – a [romantasy](/source/Romantasy) themed campaign frame titled "With Love and Magic" scheduled for release in 2026, a setting exploring a new genre for the game by [Jeremy Crawford](/source/Jeremy_Crawford), an "interconnected adventure supplement" for various *Daggerheart* campaign frames by [Chris Perkins](/source/Chris_Perkins_(game_designer)), and a "new world" with player options created by [Keith Baker](/source/Keith_Baker_(game_designer)) and Jenn Ellis.[24][25] Darrington Press also announced a [Kickstarter](/source/Kickstarter), which then launched on September 30, 2025, for a play accessory focused on the nine classes from the core rulebook.[24][26] In November 2025, Darrington Press announced the upcoming expansion sourcebook *Daggerheart: Hope & Fear*;[27] it is scheduled to have an early release in August 2026 followed by a wide release on September 22, 2026.[28] The sourcebook "nearly doubles the character creation options" with the inclusion of new classes and subclasses, ancestries, and community options as well as a new transformation mechanic which adds options such as "werewolf, vampire, ghost, or demigod".[27] For Game Masters, the sourcebook adds "100 new gear items", "more than 130 adversaries", and "four new campaign suggestions with their own custom mechanics and themes".[27]

## Reception

The game sold out upon release.[29][18] After the game's release, Mercer stated that *Daggerheart* was a major part of the company's future business plans.[5]

Multiple reviewers compared the game to *[Dungeons & Dragons](/source/Dungeons_%26_Dragons)* (*D&D*), noting that the [actual play](/source/Actual_play) show *[Critical Role](/source/Critical_Role)* started with the [5th Edition *D&D*](/source/Dungeons_%26_Dragons_5th_edition).[30] Game designer Rob Wieland praised the game in *[Forbes](/source/Forbes)*, stating that the game "celebrates the best parts of *D&D* while also not having to worry about legacy mechanics and earlier editions".[31] Benjamin Abbott of *[GamesRadar+](/source/GamesRadar%2B)* liked the Hope and Fear mechanic for making it easier to act as the [gamemaster](/source/Gamemaster).[32] Samantha Nelson of *[Polygon](/source/Polygon_(website))* felt that *Daggerheart* made failure more interesting, as well as improving choices for non-spellcasters.[30] Jen Karner, for [CNET](/source/CNET), pronounced her "love" for *Daggerheart* as "the most accessible TTRPG I've ever played", including the game's use of cards to track gameplay as an alternative to the rulebook.[33] GamingTrend also reviewed the game, saying that it is "a polished, inventive contender in the fantasy TTRPG space, marrying elegant mechanics with a strong narrative ethos".[34]

## References

1. ["Daggerheart Tabletop RPG FAQs"](https://www.daggerheart.com/faq/). *Daggerheart*. Retrieved 2025-05-28. Who is in the Daggerheart Core Set credits?

1. Filsinger, Jack (2025-05-20). ["Daggerheart Designers Spenser Starke And Rowan Hall On Creating Critical Role's Ultimate Fantasy TTRPG"](https://www.thegamer.com/daggerheart-critical-role-ttrpg-spenser-starke-rowan-hall/). *TheGamer*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. Filsinger, Jack (2025-05-23). ["Daggerheart: Duality Dice, Explained"](https://www.thegamer.com/daggerheart-duality-dice-critical-role-ttrpg-explained-guide/). *TheGamer*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. Russell, Mollie (May 30, 2025). ["Daggerheart, Critical Role's answer to DnD, wants to give you total RPG freedom"](https://www.wargamer.com/daggerheart/designer-interview). *[Wargamer](/source/Wargamer_(website))*. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

1. Teh, Cheryl. ["Critical Role's Matt Mercer says the new game 'Daggerheart' is a 'major part' of the business's future"](https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-mercer-daggerheart-critical-role-darrington-press-age-of-umbra-2025-5). *Business Insider*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. [*Daggerheart's Matthew Mercer Walks Us Through His TTRPG's Custom Card Generator | IGN Live 2025 - IGN*](https://www.ign.com/videos/daggerhearts-matthew-mercer-walks-us-through-his-ttrpgs-custom-card-generator-ign-live-2025). 2025-06-07. Retrieved 2025-06-30. – via www.ign.com.

1. Hall, Charlie (April 20, 2023). ["Critical Role is branching out from D&D by publishing two new RPG systems"](https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/23691117/critical-role-new-rpg-system-illuminated-worlds-daggerheart-queen-by-midnight). *Polygon*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230420160611/https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/23691117/critical-role-new-rpg-system-illuminated-worlds-daggerheart-queen-by-midnight) April 20, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 20, 2023.

1. Codega, Linda (April 20, 2023). ["Darrington Press Unveils New Board Games and Tabletop Systems"](https://gizmodo.com/darrington-press-critical-role-state-of-the-press-2023-1850357290). *Gizmodo*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230420160347/https://gizmodo.com/darrington-press-critical-role-state-of-the-press-2023-1850357290) April 20, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 20, 2023.

1. Wieland, Rob. ["Discussing Daggerheart Game Design With Spenser Starke And Rowan Hall"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/robwieland/2025/05/14/discussing-daggerheart-game-design-with-spenser-starke-and-rowan-hall/). *Forbes*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. Teh, Cheryl. ["Here's what it's like to have a nerd world dream job: building games for the Critical Role empire"](https://www.businessinsider.com/critical-role-game-designers-building-candela-obscura-daggerheart-2024-5). *Business Insider*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. Hoffer, Christian (February 28, 2024). ["Critical Role Announces Daggerheart Open Beta Playtest"](https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-announces-daggerheart-open-beta-playtest/). *[ComicBook.com](/source/ComicBook.com)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240228181835/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-announces-daggerheart-open-beta-playtest/) February 28, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 28, 2024.

1. Stretch, Andrew (2024-02-28). ["Critical Role's Daggerheart Announces Open Beta Playtesting Date"](https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/critical-roles-daggerheart-announces-open-beta-playtesting-date). *TechRaptor*. Retrieved 2024-02-28.

1. Teh, Cheryl (May 15, 2024). ["Critical Role returns to its fast and loose livestream roots to promote its Hasbro-killer board game empire"](https://www.businessinsider.com/critical-role-unleashes-fun-chaos-daggerheart-livestream-menagerie-twitch-2024-5). *[Business Insider](/source/Business_Insider)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240518212003/https://www.businessinsider.com/critical-role-unleashes-fun-chaos-daggerheart-livestream-menagerie-twitch-2024-5) May 18, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 15, 2024.

1. McCullough, Hayley (2024-07-02). ["Critical Role: https://critrole.com/"](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08821127.2024.2376467). *[American Journalism](/source/American_Journalism_Historians_Association#Publications)*. **41** (3): 415–417. [doi:10.1080/08821127.2024.2376467](https://doi.org/10.1080/08821127.2024.2376467). [ISSN 0882-1127](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0882-1127)

1. Miller, Matt (May 15, 2025). ["Exclusive – Diving Deep Into Critical Role's Daggerheart"](https://www.gameinformer.com/tabletop/2025/05/15/exclusive-diving-deep-into-critical-roles-daggerheart). *[Game Informer](/source/Game_Informer)*. Retrieved May 31, 2025.

1. Villagracia, Michelle (May 29, 2025). ["Tabletop role-playing games can be intimidating. Here's one anyone can jump into"](https://www.cbc.ca/arts/critical-role-daggerheart-matthew-mercer-spenser-starke-sam-maggs-1.7547384). *[CBC Arts](/source/CBC_Arts)*. Retrieved May 31, 2025.

1. Chancey, Tyler (2025-02-12). ["New Daggerheart Miniseries Announced, Featuring the Age of Umbra Campaign Frame"](https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/new-daggerheart-miniseries-announced-featuring-age-of-umbra-campaign-frame). *TechRaptor*. Retrieved 2025-05-09.

1. Teh, Cheryl (December 26, 2025). ["How 2 men behind the Critical Role machine plan to turn the nerdworld royalty into a legacy brand"](https://www.businessinsider.com/critical-role-exec-ed-lopez-ben-van-der-fluit-2025-12). *[Business Insider](/source/Business_Insider)*. Retrieved December 31, 2025.

1. Russell, Mollie (May 30, 2025). ["Hot new DnD rival Daggerheart drops free rules for everyone to play with"](https://www.wargamer.com/daggerheart/srd-drop). *[Wargamer](/source/Wargamer_(website))*. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

1. Griepp, Milton (January 9, 2025). ["Macmillan to Distribute Darrington Press RPG Products"](https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58582/macmillan-distribute-darrington-press-rpg-products). *[ICv2](/source/ICv2)*. Retrieved June 16, 2025.

1. Codega, Lin (June 17, 2025). ["Darrington Press snag veteran D&D talent in surprise double hiring"](https://www.rascal.news/darrington-press-snag-veteran-d-d-talent-in-surprise-double-hiring/). *Rascal News*. Retrieved June 17, 2025.

1. Russell, Mollie (June 25, 2025). ["DnD rival Daggerheart to add gnomes, witches, assassins, and amnesiacs"](https://www.wargamer.com/daggerheart/playtest-witch-assassin). *[Wargamer](/source/Wargamer_(website))*. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

1. Zambrano, J. R. (June 25, 2025). ["'Critical Role's 'Daggerheart' RPG Playtests Two New Classes - The Witch And The Assassin"](https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2025/06/critical-roles-daggerheart-rpg-playtests-two-new-classes-the-witch-and-the-assassin.html). *Bell of Lost Souls*. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

1. ["Breaking Daggerheart News from Gen Con!"](https://www.daggerheart.com/gencon2025-announcements/). [Darrington Press](/source/Darrington_Press). July 31, 2025. [Archived](https://archive.today/20250731155502/https://www.daggerheart.com/gencon2025-announcements/) July 31, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

1. Cacciatore, Francesco (2025-08-05). ["DnD and Critical Role have entered the TTRPG Cold War era and I'm thrilled"](https://www.polygon.com/dnd-critical-role-war-daggerheart/). *Polygon*. Retrieved 2025-08-11.

1. Russell, Mollie (September 30, 2025). ["DnD rival Daggerheart gets even more accessible, as class packs Kickstarter"](https://www.wargamer.com/daggerheart/class-packs-kickstarter). *Wargamer*. Retrieved October 1, 2025.

1. Nelson, Samantha (November 21, 2025). ["Critical Role's Daggerheart gets first expansion, adding werewolves and vampires"](https://www.polygon.com/daggerheart-hope-fear-first-expansion/). *[Polygon](/source/Polygon_(website))*. Retrieved November 21, 2025.

1. Russell, Mollie (April 15, 2026). ["D&D rival Daggerheart's second rulebook releases in August, with four new classes"](https://www.wargamer.com/daggerheart/hope-and-fear-release-date). *[Wargamer](/source/Wargamer_(website))*. Retrieved April 19, 2026.

1. Filsinger, Jack (2025-06-19). ["With Crawford And Perkins In Tow, Daggerheart Is Poised To Take The Tabletop Crown From Dungeons & Dragons"](https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-critical-role-daggerheart-jeremy-crawford-chris-perkins/). *TheGamer*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. Nelson, Samantha (2025-05-20). ["Critical Role's Daggerheart might be the exactly what your bored D&D group needs"](https://www.polygon.com/critical-role/599974/daggerheart-review-critical-role-ttrpg-rules-overview). *Polygon*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. Wieland, Rob. ["A Hands On Look At Daggerheart, The New Game From Critical Role"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/robwieland/2025/06/20/a-hands-on-look-at-daggerheart-the-new-game-from-critical-role/). *Forbes*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. Abbott, Benjamin (2025-05-23). ["I've been playing D&D for years, but I may switch to Daggerheart thanks to one simple yet brilliant mechanic"](https://www.gamesradar.com/tabletop-gaming/ive-been-playing-d-and-d-for-years-but-daggerheart-might-make-me-defect-for-one-simple-yet-brilliant-mechanic/). *GamesRadar+*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. ["Daggerheart Is the Most Accessible TTRPG I've Ever Played. Here's What I Love About It"](https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/daggerheart-is-the-most-accessible-ttrpg-ive-ever-played-heres-what-i-love-about-it/). *CNET*. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

1. ["Daggerheart review — more than a heartbreaker"](https://gamingtrend.com/reviews/daggerheart-review-more-than-a-heartbreaker/). *GamingTrend*. 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-08-04.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Daggerheart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daggerheart) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daggerheart?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.